Page 31 - OPIHI (English)

nAthdwArA 17

was still a child. His mother therefore defeated the impersonal Çaìkarite
stayed at the home of her parents, philosophy. This victory moved the
and Vallabha soon went to study at other scholars to glorify him with a
Väräëasé, where he became a great grand procession.
scholar. He studied under the saint
Mädhavendra Puré. At the time of Çré Vallabhäcärya,
India’s religious life had been torn
Vallabha realized that since the by the Mughal invasion. Spiritual
world comes from Brahman, the practices had worn down, and the
Supreme Absolute Truth—Lord schools of Buddha and Çaìkara
Çré Kåñëa—the world cannot be had brought confusion. Çré
false. As the ornaments fashioned Vallabhäcärya spread the true spirit
from gold must be golden, the world of the Vedas through dialogues and
created by Brahman, the supreme debates at many of the eighty-four
reality, must be real. seats.

After studying in Väräëasé, Çré He taught, “The one scripture
Vallabhäcärya began traveling all is Bhagavad-gétä, the Supreme
over India, speaking about the Godhead is Çré Kåñëa, the supreme
Çrémad-Bhägavatam and teaching mantra is Çré Kåñëa’s name, and the
sublime devotion to Lord Kåñëa. best work is His service.”
The eighty-four “seats,” or places
where he taught, are held in great The strong personal devotion
esteem by his followers. These taught by Çré Vallabhäcärya closely
baiöhaks, as the seats are known, resembles the spirit of the followers
are marked by shrines where he is of Lord Caitanya. Lord Caitanya’s
offered daily homage. As part of followers point more toward public
the worship, Çrémad-Bhägavatam is congregational chanting of the holy
placed upon the seat, for it is felt that name of the Lord, while the tradition
Çré Vallabhäcärya stays there to this of Vallabhäcärya centers more on
day, revealing from the Bhägavatam private chanting, worshiping the
the glories of Lord Çré Kåñëa. Deity of Lord Kåñëa within the
home, and singing devotional songs
Çré Vallabhäcärya once visited the for the Deity’s pleasure.
great city Vidyanagara, on the bank
of the River Tuìgabhadrä. There Çré Vallabhäcärya urged his followers
he enlightened Krishnadeva Raya, toward humility and told them to
the great South Indian king, and rely on Lord Kåñëa’s grace. If there